Lamp socket supporting means



May 6, 1952 a. J. THOMAS LAMP SOCKET SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Dec.

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Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP SOCKET SUPPORTING MEANS George J. ThomasrBirmingham, Mich., assignor to Watts Electric & Mfg. Co., Birmingham, Micln, a, corporation of Michigan Application December 18, 1947, Serial No; 792,371

3 Glaims. 1

This invention relates to an improved lamp socket supporting fixture adapted to extend through an aperture of, and be mounted on, a bracket plate or other similar member.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved lamp socket supporting fixture which is simple in construction, economical of manufacture, and reliable and efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide such a lamp socket supporting fixture which may be easily and quickly applied to an associated bracket plate or the like and which may be readily detached therefrom.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference maybe had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a broken view partially in elevation and partially in section of the rear portion of an automobile showing an embodiment of the invention employed to support the lamp socket of the rear tail light of the automobile;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 taken along the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated. in Fig. 1 taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a broken enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 taken along the line 55 thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview similar to Fig. 5 of a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the automobile [0, in each of its rear fenders l2 carries a rear tail light box l4 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The box M has a generally centrally located, vertically disposed bracket plate IE to which the lamp socket supporting fixture, generally designated [8 issecured. A lamp socket is supported therein as hereinafter described, and extends rearwardly therefrom and carries the rear tail light bulb 22 mounted in and extending from its rear end.

The lamp socket supporting fixture [8 comprises a stirrup 30, a supporting member or cup 32 mounted on said stirrup and adapted to receive and support the lamp socket t8, and a coil spring 34 engaging the stirrup and the member 32 to yieldably grip the bracket plate I6 between the stirrup 30 and the cup member 32.

Considering the above mentioned elements of the fixture [8 in greater detail, the stirrup 30 is generally U-shaped' and is formed of strip steel or other suitable material- The web portion 36 of the stirrup is formed to provide a circular raised portion 38 on the inner surface thereof which projects into one end of the spring 34 to properly locate the same. An aperture 40 is provided centrally of the web portion 36 through which may extend a. suitably insulated electrical conductor 42. The stirrup arms 31 are curved transversely to lie in the surface of a common circular cylinder extending at right angles to the web portion 36. At the outer end of each arm 31, and disposed centrally thereof, a locating tab 44 is integrally formed thereon. The tabs 44 are offset outwardly to provide clamping surfaces 46 (see Fig. 4) presenting axially inwardly of the stirrup 30, or toward the web portion 35. On opposite sides of each of the tabs 44 the outer ends of the arms 31 are inwardly turned to form fingers 48 adapted to engage the supporting member 32 to prevent the latter from being forced off the outer ends of the arms 31 of the'stirrup by the action of the spring 34. Each of the stirrup arms 31 is also provided intermediate its ends with a pair of opposed cooperating notches 50 (see Fig. 4) formed in opposite sides thereof to facilitate assembly of the supporting member 32, the stirrup 30 and the spring 34 as hereinafter more fully described.

The above mentioned supporting member 32 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a reduced inner end adapted to fit within one end of the spring 34 and provide an annular spring seat 52 spaced from and presenting toward the web portion 36 of the stirrup. A radially outwardly extending flange 54 is integrally formed on the outer end of the cylindrical supporting member 32 and has a pair of diametrically opposed T- shaped slots formed therein. The enlarged portion of each slot is adapted to receive and retain one of the stirrup arms 31 and permit sliding movement of" the supporting member 32 longitudinally of the stirrup: The reduced and 64 the flange 54 carries a pair of diametrically opposed detents 66 which function as hereinafter described to retain the fixture [8 in clamped position when it has been applied to the bracket plate [6.

The bracket plate I6 is provided with a generally circular aperture 10 having a pair of diametrically opposed notches 12 extending radially outwardly therefrom and communicating therewith.

The lamp socket 20 is telescopically received within the cylindrical supporting member 32 and seats against the reduced inner end portion thereof and is staked therein as indicated at 80 or otherwise suitably secured against rotation relative thereto. Within the lamp socket 20 a conventional electrical contact element 82 is fastened on the inner end of the electrical conductor 42 and is supported centrally of the lamp socket by a plunger 84 formed of a suitable insulating material. The contact element 82 is urged outwardly of the lamp socket 20 and into contact With the base of the bulb 22 by a coil spring 86 one end of which engages the plunger 84 and the other end of which extends through the reduced end of the member 32 and abuts against the web portion 36 of the stirrup.

To attach the fixture I8 to the bracket plate It the outer end of the lamp socket is inserted through the aperture 10 and the tabs 44 on the outer end of the stirrup arms 3! are pressed into the notches 12. It will now be appreciated that as pressure is applied to the web of the stirrup externally thereof, the flange 54 of the supporting member 32 is pressed against the bracket plate 16 and the arcuately shaped bosses 64 are pressed into the aperture '10 to assist in properly locating the supporting member 32.

Additional pressure is then applied to the stirrup and the spring 34 is compressed permitting the stirrup arms 3'! to move through the aperture to a position in which the clamping surfaces 46 have moved beyond the remote surface of the plate It. The clamp is then rotated to move the clamping surfaces 46 out of alignment with the notcheslZ and the stirrup is released. In this position it will be appreciated that the plate [6 is gripped between the flange 54 on one side and the clamping surface 46, carried by the tab 44 of the stirrup arm, on the opposite side, by the action of the spring 34. The installation is completed by continuing to rotate the stirrup in the same direction to a position in which the detents 66 drop into the notches 12. In this position the detents 65 engage the plate l6 at the opposite sides of the notches T2 to yieldably prevent rotation of the fixture 18 in either direction. To remove the fixture the stirrup is rotated relative to the plate It and the stirrup arms 31 engage the supporting member 32 in the slots 60 and cause the member 32 to rotate with the stirrup. This rotation cams the detents 66 from the notches 12.

The fixture may then be rotated to a position in which the clamping surfaces 46 are aligned with the slots 12 and withdrawn from the plate.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 6 differs from the above described embodiment only in that the detent SUthereof corresponding to the detent 66 in the above described embodiment, has an abrupt face 32 at one edge thereof and a cam surface 94 atthe other edge thereof. This construction permits the fixture tobe rotated in one direction during installation until the detent drops'into the notch 96 corresponding to the notch 12 of the above described embodiment, and furtherrotation is prevented by the engagement 4 V of the abrupt face 92 of the detent and the plate 98, at one edge of the notch 96. This construction permits the clamp to be readily removed by rotation in the opposite direction, the detent being lifted out of the notch 96 by the action of the cam 94 acting against the plate [6.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp socket supporting fixture adapted to be secured to a supporting element having an aperture therein, said lamp socket supporting fixture comprising a first member having a base portion and a jaw portion, a second member adapted to engageone face of said supporting element and mounted on said first member for movement therealong, spring means engaging said base portion and said second member to yieldably urge the latter along said first member in a direction toward said jaw portion, said fiX- ture being rotatable relative to said supporting element, said jaw portion being adapted to be inserted through said aperture in said supporting element in one rotative position of said fixture relative to said element and rotated to another rotative position, and when so inserted and rotated, to engage the opposite face of said supporting element, and means on said second member adapted to project into a portion of said aperture in said another rotative position of said fixture to engage said supporting element and yieldably hold said fixture against rotation from said another position.

2. A lamp socket supporting fixture adapted to be secured to a supporting element having an aperture therein, said lamp socket supporting fixture comprising a stirrup member having a base portion and spaced arms formed thereon, said arms having clamping surfaces formed externally thereof and facing towards .said base portion, a cylindrical member mounted on said arms for movement therealong, and a spring engaging said base portion and said cylindrical member to yieldably urge the latter towards said clamping surfaces, said cylindrical member having an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage one face of said supporting element, said arms being adapted to be inserted through said aperture in one rotative position of said fixture relative to said element and rotated to another rotative position, and when so inserted and rotated, to engage the opposite face of said element, and said flange havinga detent formed thereon adapted to project into a portion of said aperture in said another rotative position of said fixture and engage said supporting element to hold said fixture against rotation from said another rotative position.

3. A lamp socket supporting fixture adapted to be secured to a supporting element having an aperture therein, said lamp socket supporting fixture comprising a stirrup member having a base portion and spaced arms formed thereon, said arms having clamping surfaces formed externally thereof and facing towards said base portion, a cylindrical member mounted on said arms for movement therealong, and a spring engaging said base portion and said cylindrical member to yieldably urge the latter towards said clamping surfaces, said cylindrical member having an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage one face of said supporting element, said arms being adapted to be inserted through said aperture in one rotative position of said fixture relative to said element and rotated to another rotative position, and when so inserted and rotated, to engage the opposite face of said ele- 5 6 ment, said flange having a detent formed thereon adapted to project into a portion of said aperture ERENCES CITED in said another rotative position of said fixture The f llowin refere are f record in the to engage said supporting element and yieldably fil of this patent: hold said fixture against rotation from said an- 5 other rotative position, said flange also having a UNITED STATES PATENTS cam surface at one edge of said detent effective Number Name Date upon rotation of said fixture in one direction to 2,151,089 Douglas Mar. 21, 1939 engage said supporting element and withdraw 2,151,903 Douglas Mar. 28, 1939 said detent from said aperture. 10 2,239,451 Stearns Apr. 22, 1941 GEORGE J. THOMAS. ,360,309 WOOd Oct. 17, 1944 

